Selectors gamble on injury cover

Leon MacDonald scores during the NZ Maori win over the Lions. Picture / Amos Chapple

Extra heat has been lumped on the multi-talented Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger and Rodney So'oialo for the All Black series against the Lions.

The selectors have gambled that five-eighths Daniel Carter and openside flanker Richie McCaw will stay fit throughout the series and have resisted picking any specialist replacements.

If there is any injury drama, the panel has decided that MacDonald or Mauger will be adequate cover for Carter and that So'oialo can pitch in for McCaw.

That judgement left man of the match for the NZ Maori, flanker Marty Holah, as the most obvious casualty with the decision to pick him in the 29-man Junior All Blacks instead of the 26-strong All Blacks.

There could be no shock at the exclusion of wing Joe Rokocoko - his form has not measured up all year - although it must have been a toss-up between him and Doug Howlett.

The verdict on Holah was the surprise of yesterday's announcement with his exclusion the result of a 14-12 forwards-backs split and the belief that McCaw will last the series.

The All Black panel also thought Holah was better off playing in Australia with the Juniors. There would be no problem if Holah had to be recalled for an injury as he was very familiar with the All Black plans, patterns and moves.

Overlooking Holah as a backup to McCaw for the high-impact, high-injury collision zone flankers work in, seemed unusual when four players who could be picked at centre have been included, while four can also be wings and there are two fullbacks.

Rather than carry Holah as a deputy opensider, the selectors were convinced on half a game from Rodney So'oialo against Fiji, that he would be an able backup.

"I guess the hardest selection for the selectors was the loose forward combination with guys like Steve Bates, Josh Blackie, Craig Newby and Marty Holah in particular, and Chris Masoe in the Junior All Blacks who are all high quality players," said coach Graham Henry.

"We have only picked one seven in the All Blacks in our 26 and we have looked to develop some young locks."

Forwards coach Steve Hansen said Holah's non-selection was not form-related.

"We saw last night [against the Lions] he was in outstanding form but when you have someone like Richie McCaw who is set to play every minute of every test, we felt it was beneficial for Marty to continue his game time with the Juniors," Hansen said.

There will be similar intrigue that Mauger and MacDonald have been approved as the first five-eighths and goalkicking cover for Carter.

Backs coach Wayne Smith said both had played five-eighths at times, MacDonald most recently during his stint in Japan when he was also kicking for goal.

Both players would be undergoing extensive training with kick-catch coach Mick Byrne.

"We think both of them mentally have the ability to become pretty good kickers if we can tighten up their techniques," Smith said.

Should Carter be unable to play during the test series, Nick Evans and Andrew Mehrtens were mentioned as possible replacements.

Mehrtens and Reuben Thorne were the senior men who did not make the cut for the Junior All Blacks' three-game trip to Australia later this month. There is no age restriction in the Junior All Blacks, it is the side which has replaced New Zealand A.

Members of that squad, whose provinces played the Lions, would be released for those matches. Apart from Ma'a Nonu, that dispensation does not apply to the All Blacks.

Jono Gibbes has a foot injury but is included in the wider squad, on full pay, to cover for Mose Tuiali'i who has a pinched nerve in his back.

Derren Witcombe is also included as backup for Anton Oliver, although Henry rated his chances of making the first test in a fortnight as "good".

A problem for Gibbes may be that he ends up floating as a backup when, as one of the best leaders in the land, he could help tutor some of the younger players in the Juniors.

The All Black panel said they were not reading too much into the Lions' loss to the NZ Maori.

"I think the Lions are holding back," Henry said. "There is a big test match in a couple of weeks. It reminds me a bit of the Lions' performance against Australia A in 2001 and the Lions went on and played pretty well in the first test.

"I don't think we should get complacent."

But Henry did have some advice for the Lions' problems at the breakdown.

"I guess it is what they have been used to back home. I watched a lot of club football in Europe and referees are probably a bit more lenient on the third and fourth player arriving at the tackle area," Henry said.

"The referees in this part of the world - and it should be worldwide shouldn't it? - insist that players stay on their feet so it is a decent game to watch and a decent game to play.

"I guess it takes a while to adjust to that stricter interpretation which I think is essential for the game to be a spectacle and for the guys to enjoy."